"State Record", What If?

[audemp]

Shackbash, The laundrey bag will work as long as it is strong enough. Duck decoy sacks work great too. We usually use the net.

[hanson]

The one thing that will absolutely have to happen to register a State Record fish will be to get its weight on a certified scale with witnesses.

In preparing for weighing your monster, know where the closest certified scale is that you can obtain that weight on, and be certain that it will weigh the weight of fish you want to weigh. I'm not sure if everybody's scales will weigh a 70lb plus flathead. Running from store to store with a 70lb fish to see if their scale can weigh it is probably not what you want to be doing once you've caught it.

When that fish bites at 1am or any other odd hour of the morning, you'll probably have to wait awhile to find a place thats open as well.

Putting the fish in a decoy bag in the river is probably the best thing you could do while waiting for morning. You will eventually have to kill the fish since the DNR will not allow transporting the fish live from the body of water you caught it in. (Remember the fiasco with the Bass a couple years ago)

I've said this previously but I believe I'm not going to have the heart to kill that record flattie to hold a state record. However, I will NOT look down upon anyone else that chooses to claim the record. It will be a pretty cool moment when/if it happens!

[rushing]

I wonder how the various "contests" on the MN get around the transporting fish rule. Not eveyone brings fish in by boat.

[DARK30]

All I know is the fish would not be killed. I'd try to have it recognized officially but if not no big deal..un-official is better than dead.

A Mudeye over 70 pounds could very well happen at any time. I know of a few over 60 and they are still growing

[Larry FlatCaster]

Quote:

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All I know is the fish would not be killed. I'd try to have it recognized officially but if not no big deal..un-official is better than dead.

A Mudeye over 70 pounds could very well happen at any time. I know of a few over 60 and they are still growing

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Well said Mate.

[hanson]

Quote:

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I wonder how the various "contests" on the MN get around the transporting fish rule. Not eveyone brings fish in by boat.

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Rob-

I was wondering the same thing myself and maybe a "friendly" e-mail to the DNR can shed some light on this "situation".

Transporting them in a boat livewell across the water is one thing, transporting them in a cooler or Rubbermaid tote full of water in the back of a truck is an entirely different thing.

[Scott K]

I think that law is stupid and needs to be changed. I would not trade a state record to kill a beast like a 70+ lb flat. I think I would bring it in alive and have it weighed, and measured, taking the chance of getting a ticket and arguing why its not dead would be worth it.

Does anyone have a list of ceritfied weigh stations? Just incase.